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Discussion Forum

aluminum or steel railing?

| Posted in General Discussion on July 5, 2005 06:11am

Just starting an extension to my long going renovation which will include a large deck over the garage and around a curved sun room.  We will need about 200 lin ft of fairly ornate railing.

Anyone have any experience with either aluminum and/or steel railings?  My arch is recommending the steel because the aluminum can be damaged by falling snow.  I’ve also been warned that aluminum will corrode, which surprises me as I was looking at the aluminum as a wrought iron subsitute but less maintenance.

Thanks

paul

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  1. Robrehm | Jul 05, 2005 03:37pm | #1

    A good quality aluminum rail will outperform the steel as far as finish durability. I'm wondering what your architechts reasoning is.  Check out http://www.duradek.com & click on the durail link.

    1. blue_eyed_devil | Jul 06, 2005 01:10am | #5

      Rob, great link!

      I'm planning a sundeck on my Lake Huron property. I want something waterproof and everything I think about has some negatives.  I knew eventually, I would start seeking some links just like you supplied.

      For the record, I love the feel of powder coated aluminum products.

      I especially like the clear rail system.

      blue 

    2. zindpr | Jul 06, 2005 04:16am | #6

      The arch doesn't have any real problems with Al, but feels that the look and durabiltiy of steel (actually wrought iron) is better.

      Thanks for the link to Duradek.  They have a great look, but too modern for our extension.  The extension will have a New Orleans look, with floor to ceiling shuttered windows, so a more ornate black railing is what we had in mind. 

      I have been looking for a solid membrane flooring material for the deck space, so I'm going to look into the duradek.

      thanks

      paul

      1. Robrehm | Jul 06, 2005 06:34am | #8

        Yer welcome about the link. they have other designs not on the site, you might want to call them & see if they have one that will work.

  2. MisterSteve | Jul 05, 2005 05:11pm | #2

    I don't like the feel of aluminum. I have even seen top of the line Al railings flake the paint as it corrodes. Steel tubeing can feel cheap also, and rusts thru quick. A nice, solid, cold-rolled custom bulit steel railing will last forever with a new paint job every few years.

    Of course, thats what I build so I am prejudice.

    1. Robrehm | Jul 05, 2005 08:58pm | #3

      the top line Al with the baked enamal finish I have not seen flake. Most have a warranty of 10 years or more.

  3. User avater
    CapnMac | Jul 05, 2005 09:44pm | #4

    A steel railing is much simpler to "shop" around various small welding shops.  That means you can usually get things like nice custom service and ground-smooth to your definition of smooth, types of things.  The small shops will also know (and know of) small shops for powder-coat or high-quality priming paint.

    The alternative is anodized aluminium, which is the the most durable AL finish.  This can sometiems be had in pre-assembled railings, that need only anchoring.  Curves, however may require expensive custom ordering, though.  Also, the anodized finish is vunerable, particularly during installation to scratches--which just don't "touch up" very well.

    The section (dimension for strength) varies enough to need two different sets of detail sheets, too.  What could be done with 3/8" bar in steel might require a 1" section in AL--which affects that 4" sphere (is that 100mm?) railing requirement that most places have for railings.

    My gut instinct is that you may be happier with steel, or at least you may be happier with working with a local welding shop.

    Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
    1. zindpr | Jul 06, 2005 04:24am | #7

      We're probably leaning with wraught iron, although in a few years I'll probably be regretting it when it's time to repaint it.  We have found two interesting sources, Wolf Railings and Gates (http://wolfrailingsandgates.com/index.htm) and for Al (http://www.vico.ca/).  I'm going up to Wolf on Thursday Morning and check their products and prices out.  I'll share what I find.

      paul

      1. MisterSteve | Jul 06, 2005 07:29am | #9

        I doubt that it would be true wrought iron. I have only been able to find a few pieces of wrought iron billet from a manufacture in France. Most New Orleans style repros are cast iron, some are even cast aluminum.my kick butt link o' the day http://www.kingmetals.com/Pages/Page53.html
        from the site http://www.kingmetals.com/As long as the iron is wire brushed like crazy, hit with a rust neutrilzer, then painted, your should be fine.It neat that I grew up in New Orleans, but now live in Baltimore, where most of the ironwork was made for New Orleans.
        Well, its neat to me.Other stuff I find neat, here is a little more info about true wrought iron http://www.realwroughtiron.com/I got some (from a different place) to make some damascus steel on the forge, an example of a damascus iron knife http://www.appaltree.net/aba/education/historical/history%20art/derr-damascus.jpg

        1. zindpr | Jul 07, 2005 06:00am | #10

          Thanks for the Kingmetals link,  I've asked for a copy of the cataloge. I'm going to see the Wolf railings next monday and see what they have.

          I've heard of damascus steel, the knife looks neat, but what is it exactly?

          paul

          1. MisterSteve | Jul 07, 2005 03:44pm | #11

            Its different types of iron welded together in the forge so that you have a "loaf" of metal, with each slice being a slightly different carbon content. Then you bend, fold, and twist the loaf together hammering it out between each manouver.
            At least thats what I did.I have been super happy with King Metals. The prices in the catalog will be out-of-date, even for the '05, because thats how steel is. But it will give you a guide as too what cost more than what. Also, most of their stock is Tiawanise made, so account for some imperfections.Good luck with the railing and keep us updated!-Steve

          2. zindpr | Jul 07, 2005 04:38pm | #12

            Absolutely.  I'll be posting in the gallery photos of the construction soon.  We are just starting the framing of the first floor.

            paul

          3. zindpr | Jul 12, 2005 02:59am | #14

            Went to see Wolf metal today.  Really nice forged work.  They buy their castings from Kings Metal (whose website is down as I write).  Wolf is a family business (3 generations) Germans.  They still speak German to each other.

            We've narrowed our selected for the railings and they will be coming to take measurements as soon as the framing is done (probably next week).

            I'll start posting some pictures then.

            paul

  4. ian | Jul 07, 2005 05:22pm | #13

    Paul

    About 6 months ago I went to a talk about the construction of a very ornate (18th centry France) wrought iron railing (copied from a single photo in Vogue magazine).  The speaker was the blacksmith who built the railing.

    Points from that talk that stood out were:

    whilst the railing was forge welded steel (i.e. wrought) using a power hammer, the handrail itself was made of bronze.  Bronze is much more durable than iron, especially in an external environment, and has a better "feel" than aluminium.

    many of the railing shapes required the construction of custom forging tools. 

    gas or arc welded railing would have been much much quicker, but would convey a totally different look to a wrought iron railing.

    hope this helps.

    ian

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